Tory Cuts Endanger Canadians

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For a government that touted its record on public safety, this budget shows that its priority is anything but. Instead of cutting the bureaucrats they added when elected in 2006, the Conservatives took a direct assault on services Canadians need.

More than 1,100 people were cut at the Canada Border Services Agency, making it easier for escaped convicts and terrorists to get into Canada and endanger Canadians – but the Conservatives didn’t think about that.

“These cuts fully contradict the government’s supposed commitment to improved border security and completely undermine the announced emphasis on intelligence-led border security in the Canada-U.S. Beyond the Border Agreement,” said president of the Customs and Immigration Union, Jean-Pierre Fortin.

Cuts to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency include 600 people where 100 food inspection jobs are going to be wiped out putting the safety of our food into midair. In 2008, listeriosis struck Maple Leaf meats and it was proven that the contaminant took advantage of the plant due to lessened inspection. During the outbreak, more than 22 Canadians died because they ate what they thought were safe meat products.

“Now we’re back to square one,” NDP MP Malcolm Allen said. “It’s not a good day for consumers.”

The Conservatives say they are building a leaner government.

“What we are doing is eliminating waste and unnecessary duplication – and leaner, more affordable government is in the interest of all Canadians,” Treasury Board spokesperson, Jenn Gearey said.

If the Conservatives truly wanted a leaner government, they would and could have done the following:

Reformed the electoral system to represent Canadians and cut the House of Commons down to 100 seats (instead of adding 30 seats in areas where Conservatives have good prospects)

Now, for the Tory attack room, considering you chose glass to build your new home, maybe it isn’t a good idea to throw rocks at the opposition anymore, you never know when that glass house of yours may break!

Stephen Harper’s Conservatives recently passed Bill C-51. You’ve probably heard about it but if not, here’s the summary. It grants Canada’s spy agencies new enforcement powers to act upon data they’ve collected by monitoring your phone calls, text messages and your interactions on social media. The reason for this is they want to protect you from a terrorist attack – or arrest you if they suspect you are a terrorist. It would dismantle much of Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms which was ratified by former Prime Minister Pierre-Elliot Trudeau and grants Canadians the privacy and freedom of speech they have today.

The Transportation Safety Board has released its long-awaited report Tuesday determining the cause and necessary response to the train derailment in Lac-Mégantic that took 47 lives in a fiery explosion. The report found that of 18 factors that lead to the disaster, “no one individual, a single action or a single factor” was responsible for the disaster but didn’t shy away from criticizing Transport Canada’s lack of oversight and enforcement of safety regulations.

On Monday, the longest campaign in modern history will come to a close and if current polls are any indication, Canada may be seeing a change in government after 9 years of Conservative rule under the leadership of Stephen Harper. Accountability was his calling card in 2006 and today, accountability may very well be one of the defining reasons for his departure.

On Monday, the longest campaign in modern history will come to a close and if current polls are any indication, Canada may be seeing a change in government after 9 years of Conservative rule under the leadership of Stephen Harper. Accountability was his calling card in 2006 and today, accountability may very well be one of the defining reasons for his departure.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper left Rideau Hall this morning with Governor General David Johnston’s approval to drop the writ and Canadians are now officially headed to the polls on October 19. For the first time since fixed election date legislation was brought in by the Conservative government, a fixed election date has been followed.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper left Rideau Hall this morning with Governor General David Johnston’s approval to drop the writ and Canadians are now officially headed to the polls on October 19. For the first time since fixed election date legislation was brought in by the Conservative government, a fixed election date has been followed.